Newlyweds and Nesting: Elizabeth Anne Designs Living: A Food, Lifestyle, and Craft Blog » beauty

A Fresh Start

Kate — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:32:19 +0000

You know when you’re not physically ill but, for whatever reason, you’re just not feeling so hot? My mom’s response to complaints of these sorts of general feelings of malaise is always the same: ”Take a shower – you’ll feel better!” I like to think of it as her version of Gus Portokalos‘ “put some Windex on it!”

Anyhoo, I used to roll my eyes at this suggestion, but – as with many things in life – mom’s advice works nearly every time. There’s something about literally washing away all the dirt and grime that figuratively makes me feel renewed. Its amazing what a little hot water can do…

… hot water and my favorite bath goodies, that is!

St. Ives Energizing Citrus Body Wash (around $3.00)

Fruity and invigorating… This body wash by St. Ives not only gets me going in the morning but is mega-easy on the wallet. Its also one of the more moisturizing gel body washes I’ve tried. Added bonus? All natural ingredients and no animal testing!

Skintimate Moisturizing Cream Shave (about $4.00)

My beef with normal shaving cream is that it’s too “poofy” and slippery – I always feel like I get too much and then it either clogs my razor or ends up as a slip-n-fall hazard on my shower floor. This cream spreads on in a thin, ultra-moisturizing layer and clings to your skin as you shave. No fuss, no mess!

Toca Boxed Candles ($36.00)

I know, I know… a $36 candle??? The price tag is eyebrow raising, but I’ve had the one in my bathroom since my first quarter of law school four years ago! The official word is that Tocca candles burn at least 60 hours… so, 60 cents an hour? A luxury in every sense of the word, these look gorgeous perched on your bathtub or shelf and smell like a slice of heaven (Cleopatra and Stella are my favorite scents!).

GAP Stretch Jersey Short Robe ($39.50)

This super, super soft jersey cotton robe is ideal for slipping on straight out of the shower. Warm enough to ward off the chills but light enough to allow for comfortable blowdrying, its the Goldilocks of bathrobes! And the price is just right, too!

Aveda Foot Relie f($19.00)

I’m not a foot cream kinda-gal. I like me feet to feel dry, and I really hate sleeping in socks… so slathering lotion on my feet and then encasing them in socks overnight is pretty much a beauty regimen nightmare. But this minty concoction shimmied its way into my stocking this year and I decided to give it a go – night-time socks and all! Ummmmm, A-MAZ-ING! It smells delicious, has a lovely little tingle to it, and makes your footsies totally touchable. It also soaks in really quickly so feel free to slather it on after your morning shower and throw on some socks while you execute the rest your morning routine. By the time you’re ready to slip on shoes, the cream is absorbed and you’re off with a spring in your step!

Scrub-a-dub-dub!

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Blissful Bathing

Jenna — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:18:59 +0000

Several weeks ago husband and I celebrated our first anniversary by spending the night at the W hotel in Dallas (we stayed for free with points, woohoo!) where I was introduced to the line Bliss. My wallet has been regretting it ever since! For me, a big part of a good skincare product experience is the smell, and Bliss seems to specialize in scents that make my shower experience blissful. I’m guessing that is where the name “Bliss” came from? :) I got by as long as I could using the hotel size samples (it was getting kind of pathetic how rigidly I was rationing out my nickel size portions of body wash each day, just to use on my arms and chest so I could soak up the smell), but then someone tweeted about 20% off at Sephora and I knew it was time to bite the bullet and get the full sized products. I bought a full skin care lineup, and one luxurious (for me) splurge.

Fabulous Foaming Face Wash, $29

Pore Perfecting Facial Polish, $30

Best of Skintentions Moisturizer, $35

And the splurge, Lemon + Sage Soapy Suds Body Wash, $18. I love this so much that when we had guests spend the night recently I hid it and made them use something else. Awful I know.

I’ve been using the skincare set for a few weeks now and I don’t think my skin is clearer, but I blame that on the pregnancy. It is definitely smoother though, and I get lots of comments on how I am “glowing” lately, although that could be chalked up to the pregnancy as well I guess. The Soapy Suds though, is heavenly. I love the combination of lemon and sage, and I swear the smell sits on my skin even after I get out of the shower.

My Christmas wish list now includes the Lemon + Sage Body Butter Lite to really help the smell last through the day. Anyone have any suggestions for perfumes with lemon or sage notes that would complete the set for me?

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Clip-in Hair Extensions…I Think I Love Them!

Allison — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:30:42 +0000

I was always intimidated by the thought of “extensions.” To me, extensions were reserved for the Hollywood rich and famous type that had their hair professionally brushed and sprayed. That was until I met a girl at my salon who had these fabulous clip in extensions from Sally’s and I had a whole new world opened up to me. The extensions were human hair that she had colored to match her hair perfectly and they were about 16 inches long. She sat there so nonchalantly and popped them in, and in like 3o seconds, she had these beautiful, flowing locks. Of course, I couldn’t just sit and watch, so I asked her if I could try them on. And, who knew! They even worked on me!

I went home and researched some about extensions , but “weaves” must still be taboo because there wasn’t much out there. I ordered a head of hair off Ebay anyway and hoped for the best. My kids were scared when I pulled them out of the box, but in no time my 4 year old was popping them in her hair, too. It took few tries to figure out where to place them, but once I did, I loved my new long, sexy ’do. I wore them the other day around town to Costco, carpool, kids gymnastics class and not one fell out and they never bothered me either. It was weird. I expected to be itching and readjusting all day. So, if you’re letting you hair grow and need instant gratification or just want a change of scenery in the mirror, try some clip in extensions. Really, they’re fun!

{This is not me, but I love this before and after shot! From here}

Who’s tried them and what did you think?

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Random Fashion Truths

Allison — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:43:19 +0000

I usually have some obsession for the week that turns on my creative juices and leads to great words of fashion wisdom. But, this week….I’ve got nothin’. The only thing that this week has taught me is that sometimes oldies really are the goodies. Maybe this was the God of Fashion’s week to reconfirm a few truths in my life. Honestly, here are my “random fashion truths for the week”

1.) Preparation H is a great eye de-puffer and it’s okay to admit it. If Jennifer Aniston does, it. then it should be good enough for us. Right?

2.) Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Blackest Black is still the best. No contest.

3.) If you are coloring your hair dark, just do it out of a box. Really. So much more convenient and cheaper. Clairol Perfect 10 Dark Brown forever!

4.) Double sided Scotch tape works just as well as it’s more expensive counterparts for all those don’t-need-a-wardrobe-malfunction moments.

5.) Foot Petals. Foot Petals. Foot Petals.

What are your beauty and fashion never-goes-out-of-style truths?

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Keeping The Summer Glow

PJ — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:00:18 +0000

As summer comes to an end, my search for a bronzer/blush combo begins. I’m normally quite pale, but in the warmer months my freckles become accentuated, and I look as though as I have a bit of color in my face. However, when the season changes and my freckles fade, I’m back to looking ghostly. This year I’ve decided to invest in some bronzer to brighten my face. These are some of my choices:

Philosophy The Supernatural Mineral Blush Duo

Benefit 10

NARS Highlighting/Bronzing Blush Duo

Do you have any bronzer/blush combination recommendations?

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Peek Inside: Shape’s Beauty Award Winners!

Anne Sage — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:00:10 +0000

Since I was a teenager, one of my monthly must-reads has been Shape magazine. There’s nothing like it for motivating met to get my butt off the couch and onto the treadmill. So when the folks at Shape offered a special sneak peek of their annual Shape of Beauty awards–hitting news stands this week!–I just had to share it with my gals here at EAD Living!

Almost 5,000 readers, beauty pros, and Shape editors cast their votes for their favorite beauty products released from May ‘08 to May ‘09. The list is jam-packed with little gems that have been a hit with me too this year. Neutrogena’s new Pink Grapefruit Cleanser is a fab pick-me-up after a long day at the office, and Aveda’s Dry Remedy line has not only made my hair shinier and healthier, it’s also saved me money by increasing the length of time I can go between haircuts.

But even better are the products that have caught my eye but that I’ve been hesitant to spend on, for fear that they might be duds. Could Pantene’s Nature Fusion collection really be better than regular Pantene? Apparently so! And can Origins’ Totally Pure Deodorant convince me that there’s hope for natural deodorants after all? According to Shape’s experts and readers, it will!

This is just an eensy weensy taste of the 2009 Shape of Beauty Awards–I don’t want to spoil the whole thing for you! But tell me: what are your best beauty discoveries of the past year?

Beat the Heat: Summer Beauty Essentials

Anne Sage — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:09:52 +0000

{Amanda Pratt}

You don’t have to be a desert dweller to feel the effects of summer on your beauty routine! When the mercury rises, it takes all my strength not to crank up the A/C, collapse on the couch, and stay there ’til Labor Day. But I’ve found a few products that make me feel less like an extremely wilted flower and more like…well…a partially wilted flower.

My current fave facial sunscreen is Chanel’s new UV Essentiel. It’s totally invisible and doesn’t make me break out (knock on wood). Solar Recover is a terrific hippy-dippy product that I use as a body moisturizer and a post-sun spritz. It’s cool and refreshing, with ingredients like seaweed extract to soothe and tone. My go-to self-tanner is Neutrogena’s MicroMist (no orange streaks!) and for showers I keep a bar of coconut-scented Skin Trip soap on hand. It’s like a trip to the beach in bar form!

My hair is long, straight, and super fine, so in lieu of conditioning every day I use Aveda’s Damage Control spray to help detangle and smooth, and Terax Life Drops provide a bit of weightless shine. When I go to the beach or the pool, I coat my hair with coconut oil then pull it back in a bun for all-day protection. A colorful headband keeps the look stylish and out of my eyes.

Summer make-up can be especially tricky–I hate feeling like my face is an oilslick by the end of the day. Stick with sheer gel formulas like Bobbi Brown’s fun new glosses (you’ll look like you just ate a popsicle!) and Stila’s Sun Gel bronzer. Laura Mercier’s Oil-Free Primer feels lovely going on, and it prevents the greasies. And what good is wearing sandals all summer if you can’t rock some neon polish on your toenails?

Tell me: What are your summer beauty secrets?

What’s so wrong with White Rain?

Allison — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:00:15 +0000

Okay, so some of you may not even get the joke in the title. For all of us that remember the 80’s, you know what I’m talking about. White Rain was the premiere hairspray of the 80’s and early 90’s. It cost maybe $2.00 at the drug store and if you added some Wet N Wild pink lip gloss and blue eyeliner you were instantly cool. I still actually love Wet N Wild lip liner number 666 (I once read that Heather Locklear wears it too) , but beyond that my tastes have significantly become more “sophisticated” through the years.

As a self-proclaimed bargain shopper, it’s been hard for me to accept this fact. I never wanted to be that woman that just had to have my (fill in the blank) to feel put together. But, alas, there are just those things that I can’t live without. In no particular order, here are my faves from the beauty department that are worth the green.

Arbonne self-tanner: No streaks. No tanning spray smell. Perfect golden brown.

Imagine your winter makeup routine without foundation. That’s your hair without B&B Prep.

Bobbi Brown is known for her concealer and there’s a reason why!

BeneTint: The perfect dewy flush in a bottle.

GoSmile: Teeth whitening without the pain. So simple!

What are your must-have items?

Lemonade Sugar Scrub

Rebekah — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:00:16 +0000

Looking for a great homemade body scrub for yourself or to give as a gift? Here’s my recipe for Lemonade Body Scrub with a sugar and almond oil base. I used a recycled glass jar and organic ingredients to make this a great eco friendly gift!

Step One: Gather your ingredients and tools.

Cane Sugar
Brown Sugar
Baking Soda
Sea Salt
Lemon Essential Oil
Sweet Almond Oil
Almond Extract
Vitamin E capsules (optional)

Food Processor
Mixing Bowl
Glass container, recycled

Step Two: Sterilize your glass container by placing the jar (without lid) in a pot of boiling water for 15 minutes. Using tongs, remove it from the water and place on towel to cool down. Glass will crack under extreme temperature changes, so don’t run cold water over the jar before or after boiling it! If you have a sticky label, put a little dish soap into the water and it will bubble the paper and adhesive right off.

Step Three: Mix the following dry ingredients together in a food processor or coffee grinder for a minute or two.

3 Tablespoons Cane Sugar
3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
1 Tablespoon Sea Salt (optional)

Step Four: Add the following wet ingredients and stir until evenly distributed.

2 Tablespoons Sweet Almond Oil
1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract
20 drops lemon oil
2 capsules Vitamin E (optional, puncture and squeeze into mixture)

Step Five: Carefully spoon the scrub into the container. Seal the jar, and store out of direct sunlight. Scrub will stay good for 4-6 months.

A few notes….The scrub is a little too coarse for your face, so don’t use it on fragile skin. The lemon oil will lightly scent your skin, and you can switch it out for any other scent. If you have nut allergies, you can switch out the almond oil with olive oil.

Originally posted at Honeysuckle Life.

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A Solid Foundation

Allison — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:40:14 +0000

Seems like every spring, usually around late April, I start to notice it. Something just seems off. I’m following my usual makeup routine, concealer, foundation, blush and so on, but the end result is less than ideal. This goes on for a few days and then it hits me. It’s spring. Gone are the dark days of winter. Sun is actually shining down on me! It’s time to put away the old foundation and bust out the new.

The right foundation color and texture really is the key to any look. Whether your going for natural or glam, if your back drop for color is off, everything else will be too. Here are my tips for getting rid of the winter “mask.”

1. Choose a formula that works with your skin type during these hot months:

Oily- Oil-Free Liquid foundation is great for summer. It absorbs oil and provides moderate coverage.

Normal to Dry- Tinted moisturizers are great. They are very hydrating and light weight. Stick foundations also work well and give more coverage.

Dry to very Dry- Tinted face balm is awesome. Gives intense hydration and a dewy finish. Bobbi Brown makes a great face balm.

2. Choose a color with yellow undertones. I know this sounds weird, but very few people can wear a pink undertone foundation well. It will end up making you “chalk-y.”

3. Test several shades. The right color will blend into your jawline. You won’t have to work at making it work.

4. If you are in between two shades, either buy both and mix or choose the one that is the closest match to your forehead. Most women’s foreheads are a bit darker than the rest of the face, this is the best choice for all over.

5. Remember the purpose of foundation is not to cover up, but to even out. You may not have to apply all over your face. If just your cheeks are ruddy, focus there.

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